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Arsenal youngster’s mum blamed for first-team restrictions

The Sun is reporting that Arsenal youngster loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles has had his game-time restricted at Ipswich due an angry phone-call by his mother, and for once the paper appears to be telling the truth.

The 18 year-old was enjoying an impressive season with the Tractor Boys, making 31 first-team appearances, but that all ended a few weeks back.

The midfielder hasn’t featured in a minute of action since coming off the bench against Cardiff City on March 12, and only made the bench once following that match, and the reason is reported to have been down to his mother.

Mick McCarthy received a voicemail from the Arsenal youngster’s parent with supposed ‘poisonous’ language, after the England Under-19 was denied to attend a kit launch for his country, being told to remain with the squad in preparation for the upcoming match.

An Arsenal source is believed to have spread word of the story, with the manager claimed to have said he believed his mother could have an adverse affect on the bright youngsters future.

“Mick’s a Yorkshireman and he’s prepared to tolerate most things, but not something like this.

“The language was disgusting and so poisonous that it even shocked Mick.

“He’s only ever tried to do what’s right for the kid and protect his career, but this is something new to him.

“He likes the boy and thinks he has potential to be a top player, but he’s worried that his mother is having a detrimental affect on his career.”

In the professional game, you rarely hear a gem of a story such as this one, but you have to feel for the lad who is trying to build a career for himself.

We have all heard those stories about the over-reacting parents at kids football matches, but ringing a Championship manager is classic…

Do you think it is about time the Arsenal youngster stood up to his mum? Or can he continue to progress despite his over-bearing parent/s?